Kihon Kata (aka Taikyoku Shodan) is the most basic of all kata and has only 20 moves with three recurring techniques: down block, lunge punch, and front stance.
Taikyoku is often interpreted as meaning "First Cause" or "Basic Ultimate" to denote its basic, yet important nature.
So Taikyoku can be viewed, as a kata stripped of all complexities and extravagance, leaving only karate's truest and most effective form: move, block, and punch.
Heian Shodan is the first kata in the Heian series and is usually the first kata that a beginner must learn. It has 21 movements and its embusen is roughly I-shaped.
Essential points to learn include the oi-zuki (lunge punch) and gedan-barai (down block) which comprise over half of the kata. Also of great importance is developing the zenkutsu-dachi (front stance), the main stance of H1.
The student must try to master the arc-like moves of the feet and reversing direction, skills which appear time and time again in all kata.
One must also develop power from the hips in both the hanmi (for blocks) and shomen (for punches) positions.
Heian Nidan, the second Heian kata, has 26 movements and the embusen is almost I-shaped. Half of the kata is performed in kokutsu-dachi (back stance). Shuto-uke (knife-hand block) appears seven times, making it a very important technique for this kata.
H2 is the first kata that teaches kicks and double-hand movements. Also, gyaku hanmi, reversing the torso's position, is first learned in H2.
Pay special attention to the keage/uraken (side snap kick/back-fist) combination, as it appears in several other kata.
The shortest kata in the Heian series, Heian Sandan has 20 counts, with almost half of the movements performed in kiba-dachi (horse stance).
Tai sabaki, or "body shifting," is of utmost importance in H3. The student must learn how to rotate the entire body to gain momentum, as well as how to slide the feet, yori-ashi.
Empi (elbow) techniques are also first learned in this kata. Timing skills become prominent as H3 is the first kata that contains a slow movement (#11).
Heian Yondan has 27 counts and its primary stance is kokutsu-dachi (back stance), but students first learning this kata must also contend with the new kosa-dachi, a cross stance that is quite awkward for most karateka.
H4 introduces the student to many new techniques such as kosa-uke, shuto-uchi, kakiwake-uke, mae-empi, and hiza-tsuchi. To perform H4 properly, a certain amount of flexibility is required as all of the mae-geri (front kicks) are jodan (upper level).
Heian Yondan also has more kicks (5) than the other Heian kata. Slow moves must also be mastered in this kata; there are four of them. Much of H4 involves double-hand techniques, with morote-uke (double-hand block x4) occurring more than any other technique.
Heian Godan is the last kata in the Heian series and has 23 counts. A combination of quick and slow movements, timing skill and fluidity of motion are essential for this kata.
It is the first Shotokan kata containing a jump (tobi-komi), a very exciting technique for beginner and intermediate karateka.
Mikazuki-geri is also first seen in H5. The mizu-nagare-kamae at the beginning of the kata and the shuto-uchikomi/manji-uke combo at the end are extremely vital for proper kata performance. Bunkai for H5 involve many throws, locks, and takedowns.
Tekki Shodan is the first kata in the Tekki series and is also the first kata that does not start in the traditional yoi position. With 29 counts, it is performed almost entirely in a horse stance. The embusen is simply a straight line.
Since there is no forward or backward movement, all footwork is accomplished in a sideways manner using the crossing step, or kosa-ashi.
Another important trademark of the three Tekki kata is the haiwan-nagashi-uke/tate-uraken combo. New techniques learned in T1 include kagi-zuki, morote-zuki, and the unique ashi-namigaeshi, a very effective technique that only occurs in this kata.
For proper kata performance, obviously a strong horse stance is essential, but the student must also understand the difference between hip rotation and hip vibration, similar but slightly distinct concepts. Head turns are regarded as a single count of the kata and must be performed sharply.
Bassai is most often translated as "To Penetrate a Fortress" This is particularly evident in the kata's first movement, when the karateka launches forward with soete-uchi-uke. The word Dai means "big," describing the kata's larger movements, contrary to its counterpart Bassai Sho.
Bassai Dai is usually the first Sentei kata to be learned and is the most popular choice as tokui kata by 1st kyu examinees for black belt. It is characterized by many switching arm blocking combinations, making effective use of the hanmi/gyaku-hanmi positions. Performance of gyaku-hanmi in Bassai Dai is substantially more difficult than in H2 because in Bassai, the front stance should not be shortened to accommodate gyaku-hanmi.
Many techniques are seen for the first time in this kata such as tate-shuto-uke, sukui-uke, and hasami-uchi. The ryosho-tsukami-uke & gedan-sokuto-kekomi combination is unique to Bassai kata (both versions), while the powerful yama-zuki can ony be found in Bassai Dai and Wankan.
Jion is believed to be named after the Jion-ji, a Buddhist temple in China. The actual translation of Jion means "Love and Goodness."
Jion is the simplest of the Sentei kata and is comprised mostly of pieces from Heian and Tekki kata. It has 47 counts and contains some of the most basic movements that Shotokan has to offer. Being a simple kata, there are no fancy moves to hide behind.
If a student possesses poor basics, then the performance of Jion will be weak. For this reason, it is an excellent kata to judge one's overall technique.
The simplicity of its movements demonstrates one's humility, yet each technique should be performed with explosive power and unwavering stability.
Instructors have been known to group Jion along with Jiin and Jitte, since each start with the same hand-over-fist salutation and have very similar movements.
Empi has 37 counts, making it the shortest of the Sentei kata. Empi translates as "Flying Swallow" or "Flight of the Swallow."
Hence, the kata is characterized by quick changes in direction, as well as many sinking and rising motions that mimic the swallow's flight. Just as the swallow catches flying insects in mid-flight, the bunkai of Empi focus on catching the opponent in mid-attack, unbalancing him and making him unable to make further attacks.
Empi offers several new variations on previously learned techniques, usually by changing their angle. These techniques include gedan-zuki, age-zuki, tekubi-uchi (similar to soto-uke), teisho oshiage-uke and teisho-osae-uke. Empi also allows for the practice of certain rare techniques that, although not unique, are not found in many other kata. These movements include dropping to one knee (orishiki), the reverse lean (in hizakutsu), and kirikae-ashi, an advanced form of footwork whereby the karateka switches the feet to counterattack.
Empi is probably most noted for the spinning jump (kaiten-tobi) ocurring at the end of the kata, making it attractive to younger karateka.
